Texans got some good news this week from the U.S. Supreme Court: Members of city councils and school boards won't be able to discuss public business in private. The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from 15 Texas cities that challenged the Open Meetings Act as an unfair infringement on their free speech.

Their claim was absurd and insulting from the start. Public officials can talk or write about almost anything they want, just like average citizens. But when it comes to the business of a city or school district, elected officials have to discuss that in open meetings that have been posted for local residents.

If these officials were allowed to talk privately about which bids to approve or who to hire, taxpayers would be obviously shortchanged.

Every elected official should understand this concept and support it enthusiastically.

If they don't, voters should get rid of them the first chance they have.